Sylas vs Malzahar

Sylas
vs
Not enough games
Malzahar
Heavy CCHeavy AP damageCountered by stasisHigh burst

Build vs Malzahar

The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup

Recommended items for Sylas: Hextech Rocketbelt, Riftmaker, Zhonya's Hourglass, Mercury's Treads, Shadowflame, Dark Seal, Mejai's Soulstealer, Lich Bane.

Starting items

Doran's Ring
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Hextech Rocketbelt
1
Riftmaker
2
Zhonya's Hourglass
3

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Shadowflame
5

Summoner spells

FlashDot70%
FlashTeleport26%

Other options

Shadowflame
Dark Seal
Mejai's Soulstealer
Lich Bane
Rod of Ages
Rabadon's Deathcap
Cosmic Drive
Banshee's Veil
PrecisionPrecision
ConquerorConqueror
Presence of MindPresence of Mind
Legend: HasteLegend: Haste
Last StandLast Stand
ResolveResolve
UnflinchingUnflinching
Second WindSecond Wind
Adaptive ForceAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Malzahar's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Void Shift (P)

When he hasn't recently taken damage or been crowd controlled, Malzahar gains massive damage reduction and crowd control immunity, lingering for a short period after taking damage.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
36s8s11s–
66s8s11s2m20
96s8s11s2m20
116s8s11s1m50
166s8s9s1m20
186s8s7s1m20

Playing as Sylas

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. An auto after each spell

    Weave an auto after each spell: Petricite Burst (passive) turns it into a chain swing around you, with bonus magic damage.

  2. Save Kingslayer for low health

    Save Kingslayer (W) to finish or to save yourself when your health drops: its healing grows with your missing health.

  3. Abscond, then throw your chain

    To engage, cast Abscond (E), then recast within 3.5 seconds: Abduct (E) pulls you to the first enemy hit and knocks them into the air.

  4. Steal the ult that decides the fight

    Cast Hijack (R) on the enemy whose ult can turn a teamfight: you keep a copy of it, cast with your own stats.

Playing against Malzahar

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Get out of his portals

    Get out of the Call of the Void (Q) zone quickly: its two portals fire after a short delay, and their projectiles silence you.

  2. Break his Void Shift first

    If you have CC, hit him first with a cheap attack, then wait a moment: Void Shift (passive) still ignores CC right after the first damage.

  3. Avoid minions hit by his Visions

    Stay away from minions hit by Malefic Visions (E): if they die, the visions jump to the nearest enemy, and his Voidlings follow them.

  4. Trade before he hits 6

    Take your trades before he hits level 6: after that, Nether Grasp (R) can lock you down from range while his team hits you.

  5. Focus him during his Grasp

    When he casts Nether Grasp (R) on an ally, focus him: he channels in place, and any CC interrupts him and frees your ally.

Patch 16.21.1